Bizen Sake Cup

A new Bizen sake cup, fresh from the kiln by popular young artist Yoshiteru Koriki, a former apprentice to the master Sozan Kaneshige. This latest piece, fired in late September 2017, showcases the high quality one expects from Koriki while presenting a varied and exceptional design. It features the classic aesthetic of a Bizen sake vessel with *haikaburi* (ash-covered) *yohen* (kiln change) scenery, where layers of sesame ash, ash-covering, and scorching combine to create a complex and captivating view. Despite the intense ash covering, the *nuke* (uncovered areas) retain a rich variety of hues, from sections shimmering with gold-like accents to a dense, rich *shiso* (perilla) purple, demonstrating the profound quality of Bizen clay. The interior and foot also exhibit a magnificent *tsuchiaji* (texture of the clay) that reflects the excellence of the material, making this a work with many highlights to enjoy from every angle. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.1cm × 6.8cm × Height 5.3cm Yoshiteru Koriki was born in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture. Influenced by his father’s love for ceramics, he pursued a path in pottery, and after graduating high school in 1989, he began his apprenticeship under the masters Sozan and Yuho Kaneshige. After seven years of training, he established his own climbing kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City, in 1996 and successfully completed his first firing the following year. He held his first solo exhibition in Tokyo in 2000 and has held annual solo exhibitions since. In 1999, his work was selected for the "North Country Sweets Container Exhibition," and in 2002, he was selected for the "Chanoyu Modeling Exhibition" for the first time.